Some say that evangelism is expensive. Perhaps it is, when it is run haphazardly without attention to the details God has clearly laid out before us. Consider two scenarios:

1) People are baptized who are not yet disciples of Jesus. They are not faithful in returning their tithes and offerings and become a burden to the church.

2) People are baptized as faithful disciples of Jesus, whose lives are already changed. They are faithful in returning their tithes and offerings and help to lift the burdens of the church.

The December 1967 Ministry Magazine contains an article titled “Evangelism--Is It Too Expensive?” Many people think that evangelism costs too much money. Commonly, they will divide up the cost of the campaign by the number of baptisms and calculate a cost per baptism. In this article, the author Herman Bauman contests the common claim that evangelism is expensive. He says, “Evangelism does not really cost; it pays.”

He cites examples of increased tithes and offerings after evangelistic campaigns. If the new members were baptized as true disciples, they will contribute their tithes and offerings and more than repay the cost to bring them into the church.

While the goal of evangelism is to save souls and not to make money, evangelism is definitely worth the investment, especially when considering the value of even one saved soul.

Now is the time to use means for God. Now is the time to be rich in good works, laying up in store for ourselves a good foundation against the time to come, that we may lay hold on eternal life. One soul saved in the kingdom of God is of more value than all earthly riches. PH159 212.2

A flood of light is shining from the word of God, and there must be an awakening to neglected opportunities. When all are faithful in giving back to God His own in tithes and offerings, the way will be opened for the world to hear the message for this time. If the hearts of God’s people were filled with love for Christ, if every church member were thoroughly imbued with the spirit of self-sacrifice, if all manifested thorough earnestness, there would be no lack of funds for home or foreign missions. Our resources would be multiplied; a thousand doors of usefulness would be opened, and we should be invited to enter. Had the purpose of God been carried out by His people in giving to the world the message of mercy, Christ would, ere this, have come to the earth, and the saints would have received their welcome into the city of God. 6T 449.4